The Confessions of Henry Lee Lucas

by Mike Cox

Strong spine with light creasing. Bright clean cover has slight edge wear. Text is perfect. Same day shipping first class.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime, Biography

306 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1991

About the author

I am the author of 15 nonfiction books, the most recent being "Time of the Rangers" (New York: Forge Books, 2009), the second of my two-volume history of the Texas Rangers. Also just out is "Historic Photos of Texas Oil," (Nashville: Turner Publishing), a coffeetable book containing some 200 vintage photos from the oil patch. My other books include a study of Texas disasters, three other books on the Texas Rangers, one true crime story, a biography, a memoir and three local histories, as well as numerous magazine articles, essays and introductions for other books. I have been an elected member of the Texas Institute of Letters since 1993.

My byline regularly appears in a number of national and statewide magazines and I have been an award-winning newspaper reporter for nearly 20 years, most of that time with the Austin American-Statesman.

Reviews

[♥ Marlene♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book back in 2005. What i wrote back then was: Nov. 13 2005: Maybe not the best true crime book, but still very interesting.there are not many books about Henry lee Lucas. After you read this you will wonder, did he do all what he said he did?, or is he just a pathetic liar?

July 3rd 2011
I collect books on serial killers and am happy I have a copy of this. Planning to re-read soon.

Finished again on July 11. I liked it maybe even better than the first time.
3.7

[Fishface · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty good read that helped me put the puzzling news reports about this guy into perspective. I was a little worried that this would be an "instant paperback" that was going to stop before the point of any real resolution regarding his galloping confessions, but I came away with something approaching confidence, if not certainty, about what Hank was up to before his capture. Not so much regarding his sidekick Ottis. I have greater clarity on poor Orange Socks, for instance. This one is worth your time. My only quibble is that a book that mentions this many separate crimes really needs an index. A timeline of events or a map showing when and where the different crimes happened would have been super.

[Michael Greer · Rating 5 out of 5]

"guns don't kill people, Henry Lee Lucas kills people."

Let's start with Mom. Remember, our earliest impressions are formative. The word formative means that attitudes and behavior begin early, early, early, so exposure to certain sensitive material is bound to be formative. You might wonder, what type of material was Henry exposed too? Here is one image:

Viola Lucas, part Chippewa Indian, short at 5'2", alcoholic and providing sexual services to the local community didn't mind that her husband, missing both legs and her two boys watched as she spread her legs, indifferent to the rhythmic pounding of her paying customers, actually enjoying the drama of being completed exposed in her activities. (see page 19 of Henry's confession)

For some odd reason, Henry was sent to school in a girl's dress and with long, curly locks. The teacher intervened and gave him overalls and made sure he got a haircut. Viola had none of it.

From the tensions in the home to solitary sex in the outhouse, Henry sought to find some relief from the stress of growing up in depraved circumstances.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure when or where I picked this up, but finally got around to reading and was a good read. Even though I personally think Lucas was coerced into some murders and was a good liar. As the other ends the book with "...the only person who really knows the truth is Henry Lee Lucas."

[Emily Ashlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Felt like Gideon (from criminal minds) was reading this book to me omg

[Lizzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gott

[Sophia Swing · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read 204 pages out of 306. Basically 2/3rds.
I could not continue. This is for people who want to read an entire book written in the form of a police report, and not a story told.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book if you're into the history of serial killers and the criminal justice system here in the US. The book was well written and went into detail over the crimes he committed (sometimes graphically, so if you're squeemish beware) and how long it took the CJ system to finally convict him and put him in prison the rest of his life.

[Melissa]

It's an intresting story for those who like to know about someones screwed up life. Detailed greatly. But not really my thing.

[Debi Cates · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have no idea how to judge the writing of such a book. I spent reading most of it sick to my stomach. Rather a prurient read for me. The only book in my life I threw against the wall.